November 14th, 2017

A lot has been written about vaccine safety in recent years, and much of it has been based on false information and bad research. If you have diabetes and are wondering about whether you should receive vaccines, the answer is “Yes!” Your London Drugs pharmacists can help you sort out the facts from the falsehoods and figure out which vaccines you should get.

November 14th, 2017

Understanding hypoglycemia (the medical term for low blood glucose, also known as low blood sugar) is a very important part of diabetes management. When you eat foods that contain carbohydrates, your body breaks down these sugars and starches into glucose, a form of sugar, and your blood glucose level rises.

When your blood glucose levels drop below your target levels, this is known as hypoglycemia. It can happen for a number of reasons:

November 9th, 2017

With the launch of the anticipated new Xbox One X, there’s been a lot of talk about the benefits of this new model – but is it really worth the wait, or the price tag? Before investing in Microsoft’s latest, greatest console, be sure it’s going to meet your gaming needs instead of ending up just another expensive block in your game of console cabinet Tetris.

Graphics Processing, HDR and 4K Capability With the Xbox One X, you get HDR and 4K capability… but you got all that with last year’s Xbox One S, and Playstation 4 Pro offers HDR and 4K upscaling as well. The One X is an upgrade compared to the One S and PS4 Pro, featuring an improved GPU and the newest hardware upgrades, but consider whether an incremental improvement here is really worth shelling out when consoles already on the market offer the great colour and contrast you get with HDR as well as the ability to upscale content to incredibly sharp 4K video imaging. You’ll see fewer dropped frames with the One X, but unless you’re fanatically dedicated to the highest imaging quality in intensive games, it may not be worth the cost at the end of the day – and remember, image quality only goes as far as the least-capable hardware in your gaming setup will let it; if you don’t have a 4K- and HDR-capable TV, simply upgrading your console won’t give you the amazing effects you’re looking for.

Virtual Reality The Xbox One X, with its cutting-edge technology and engineering, is fully VR-capable as a console… but the actual hardware to allow immersive virtual reality gaming with the One X just isn’t there yet. Microsoft seems to be depending on outside developers coming up with VR applications for this console, and with the recent discontinuation of the Kinect interface throwing doubt on Microsoft’s commitment to furthering innovative interactive technology, there’s no guarantee that you’ll actually ever see VR games for the One X. Sony, on the other hand, already has a proven, well-received virtual reality application available for use with the PS4 in the Playstation VR, with an impressive catalogue of compatible games.

Backwards Compatibility and Exclusive Titles The One X features great backwards compatibility, as it’s running on the same software as the Xbox One, and will be backwards compatible with over 400 previous generation titles, including all Xbox One titles. However, Microsoft hasn’t been clear on whether any exclusive releases are planned for this console – while some new titles will be optimized for use on the One X, it currently looks like all new titles will continue to be playable on the Xbox One and Xbox One S as well, meaning you don’t now, and may not ever need to upgrade to the One X to play the newest Xbox exclusives, such as future offerings from the Gears of War, Forza, and Halo franchises.

Portability and Gaming On the Go If you’re planning on taking your gaming on the road, you may be better off with the Nintendo Switch for the ultimate in console-to-portable functionality. The Xbox One X doesn’t really add any additional options for on-the-go gaming to the existing Xbox lineup – which continues to be strikingly bare of portable options, especially given that competitors Sony and Nintendo have both offered portable options for years.

To Buy or Not to Buy? At the end of the day, the question of whether to buy into the new Xbox One X boils down to this: Will you really benefit from the improved graphic capabilities of this console?

For the hardcore gamer intent on maintaining the highest frame-rate possible at 4K resolution, the answer may be yes. But if your priorities lie more along the lines of experiencing your games in the most immersive fashion possible, we recommend sticking with the Playstation 4 Pro for its proven VR capabilities and existing catalogue of games. If you’re more into party games, portability, and family-friendly content, you really can’t go wrong with the Nintendo Switch. And if Xbox One-exclusive titles are must-haves, but you just want to get down to business and play your games, it may be advisable to stick with the One S for now, until it’s clear whether you’ll get more than just a boost to graphics with the One X.

November 3rd, 2017

Arthur by Mikael Lindnord When you’re racing 435 miles through the jungles and mountains of South America, the last thing you need is a stray dog tagging along. But that’s exactly what happened to Mikael Lindnord, captain of a Swedish adventure racing team, when he threw a scruffy but dignified mongrel a meatball one afternoon. When the team left the next day, the dog followed. Try as they might, they couldn’t lose him – and soon Mikael realized that he didn’t want to. Crossing rivers, battling illness and injury, and struggling through some of the toughest terrain on the planet, the team and the dog walked together towards the finish line, where Mikael decided he would save the dog, now name Arthur, and bring him back to his family in Sweden, whatever it took.

Reviews I really enjoyed reading about Arthur and think it’s a great book for animal lovers. The bond between Mikael and Arthur is truly one of a kind. The book starts off slow but keep reading! Once Arthur enters the story, you won’t want to put the book down. – Review by Janice

Book of the Month Every month we will be featuring a new book to be showcased in our Book of the Month. Staff members and friends will be reading the book and posting their reviews. We’d love to hear what you thought of these books as well. Post your comments and let us know. Arthur is available at London Drugs along with many other great titles and is on sale for the month of November.

Posted by London Drugs at November 3, 2017 9:06 am

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October 24th, 2017

A new baby brings so much joy…and a lot of questions. We’re here to help!

London Drugs aims to support new families at home and in our stores by offering a variety of services and resources to make life for moms and dads a little easier.

1) Health Advice for Parents

If you have questions about your child’s health, our pharmacists are an accessible resource. They can recommend over the counter medications that are safe your children and provide information on proper dosage to help you treat common baby health conditions such as diaper rash, eczema, cradle cap, constipation, pain and fever, rashes, teething and others.

Our pharmacists can also refer your child to a doctor or other health professional if they feel they require further medical attention.

2) Baby Welcome Packages

The London Drugs Baby Welcome Package provides new parents with product samples, as well as helpful information and special offers.

Simply fill out this form and you’ll receive an email with the steps to redeem your Baby Welcome Package. For online orders, enter the promo code you receive via email to add a free baby package to your next online order at londondrugs.com.

3) In-Store Diaper Stations

Taking the baby with you shopping isn’t always easy. Sometimes the ‘unexpected’ happens – just when you’ve run out of diapers, or forgot the diaper bag at home. That’s why we are excited to announce a new pilot project at select Calgary London Drugs stores: you’ll find our store washrooms fully stocked with change table supplies, including free Huggies diapers in a variety of sizes as well as wipes, for when you’re in a pinch.

Of course, we know breastfeeding is a topic that brings many questions for parents. To answer your most frequently asked questions, we brought together our London Drugs buyer, Medela expert and a London Drugs pharmacist for a 2-part video discussion on breast pumping. You can watch both videos here.

5) Children’s Passport Photos

Getting a passport can be challenging enough as an adult, let alone trying to take an acceptable passport photo for a squirming infant. Luckily, our Photolab Experts have some tricks up their sleeve to make your passport photo experience a breeze.

If you’re bringing your infant, our Photolab Experts recommend dressing them in an open shirt or onesie that you can easily unsnap. This will make it easy for you to put your hands under your child’s shirt to support them while the photo is being taken. They also recommend visiting the Photolab when your child is well-rested and satiated (not in the middle of nap time or lunch time) so they are more likely to be cooperative.

We are so confident in the quality of our passport photos – for parents and children alike – that we offer a London Drugs $50 Quality Guarantee. If a London Drugs passport or identification photo is declined for quality reasons, we will refund your purchase, retake the photo, and give you a $50 London Drugs gift card for your inconvenience.

Feel free to visit us in the Photolab, and we can walk you through the process and photo requirements for children.

6) Customizable Baby Announcements

The London Drugs Photolab offers an easy way to create baby announcement cards . Include an adorable photo of your newborn, and text with time of birth, weight and more, so you can share the excitement of your new arrival with family and friends. You can even choose from a selection of our baby announcement templates to help get you started. Just visit us in-store to order using our Photolab kiosks, or order from the comfort of your home through our Photolab website.

October 18th, 2017

Richmond head office and all 51 stores in B.C. will participate in ShakeOutBC October 19th.

If an earthquake were to happen while you were outside your home, shopping at a business or just out in your community, would you know what to do? In coastal British Columbia it is imperative we be prepared. This October 19th London Drugs will be activating emergency drills in 51 communities across the province for the annual ShakeOutBC event, and everyone is invited to participate.

London Drugs will be staging an emergency drill at its head office in Richmond as well as in it’s 51 stores across B.C. Customers will be notified on Oct.19 at 10:19 am over the P.A. system that an emergency drill will commence. A pre-recorded rumbling-type sound followed by instructions to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” will be made by store management. Each store will have emergency preparedness ambassadors ready with materials and a sample emergency preparedness kit for discussion and engagement with customers in the stores.

“I’m really proud of London Drugs’ business continuity team taking our emergency drill for ShakeOutBC to an accelerated level” says Clint Mahlman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, London Drugs. “We have been doing this drill for years but practicing it on a grander scale at our head office and taking it to all 51 B.C. stores with broader communication and engagement with our customers is an important step in bringing this crucial awareness and education to a much wider audience.”

These events correlate with the company’s commitment to leadership in the safety and wellbeing of all of its staff and customers.

“The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is gaining more and more traction. Having London Drugs take a lead role, showcasing their efforts to be prepared as a business, highlights the importance of businesses supporting their staff and community by having business continuity and preparedness plans,” said Dave Cockle, President of the BC Earthquake Alliance. “I believe that working with London Drugs this year reflects an increased understanding that the earthquake risk in B.C. is a shared responsibility and the importance of businesses being involved in preparedness. We’re on our way to creating a culture of preparedness and making British Columbia a more resilient province.”

Customers in all stores across British Columbia are encouraged to get involved during the demonstration and learn about the basics of earthquake survival and emergency preparedness.

All London Drugs stores have emergency kits and information highlighted in stores. Below are items necessary to survive for up to 72 hours without power or assistance. Emergency kits should be stored in a conveniently located and durable backpack.

Key things to have in your emergency kit are:

Water – estimate for four litres per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

Battery powered or a wind up AM/FM radio to keep updated on current conditions.

Seasonal clothing and footware along with a dust mask in case of poor air quality.

Entertainment – cards or any other board games. Crossword puzzle or pocket book to keep you occupied while waiting for the power to return.

Additional non-essential but important items include duct tape, Swiss army knife, Kleenex, toilet paper, city map, and recent photographs of loved ones in case of separation.

London Drugs provides several sizes of emergency kits for individuals and families. It’s also recommended to have a smaller emergency kit, including a solar blanket for added warmth, in your vehicle should you be in your car during a disaster.